Scientific American: Health & Medicine March 18, 2024

 

 

March 18—This week we’re covering why astronauts get space headaches, the lack of testing for children's medicines, and how chemicals in plastic disrupt the endocrine system. All that and more below! -Tanya Lewis, Senior Editor, Health and Medicine

 

Top Stories

 

Most Astronauts Get ‘Space Headaches.’ Scientists Want to Know Why   Headaches are a common and recurring problem in space, even for astronauts that don’t experience them on Earth Joanna Thompson

 

Hunger in Gaza Could Affect Survivors’ Health for Decades   Epigenetics research reveals how famines can cause health problems later in life—and how those changes might be passed down to future generations. Tulika Bose; Tanya Lewis

 

COVID-19 Leaves Its Mark on the Brain. Significant Drops in IQ Scores Are Noted   Research shows that even mild COVID-19 can lead to the equivalent of seven years of brain aging Ziyad Al-Aly, expert writer; The Conversation US

 

What Does Plastic Do to the Endocrine System?   Mounting evidence shows the endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastics are harmful to human health Emma Bryce

 

Large Study of ME/CFS Patients Reveals Measurable Physical Changes   Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), long dismissed by doctors, causes immune system dysfunction and other problems. But treatments are lacking. Tanya Lewis; Josh Fischman

 

Vaccine-Resistant Mothers Blame Bad Experiences in Health Care   In interviews, mothers who rejected vaccines for their children cited their own negative experiences with the medical system Johanna Richlin; The Conversation US

 

Why Children’s Medications Are Not Fully Tested   Most pharmaceuticals are developed and approved for use only in adults. Some researchers are working to change that Frieda Klotz; Undark

 

Medicaid Expansion Alone Isn’t Enough to Stop the Opioid Overdose Crisis   Expanding the state and federal insurance program helps prevent overdoses. But that only happens with enough treatment, and legal reform, to make it work Hannah L. F. Cooper , expert writer; Courtney R. Yarbrough , expert writer; Umedjon Ibragimov, expert writer; Janet Cummings , expert writer; Danielle Haley , expert writer

 

People Hate Daylight Saving. Science Tells Us Why.   Something is awry about the way we mark time. Can research and policy changes help us reset the clocks? Teresa Carr; Undark